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Microsoft's doubling of application downloads since the launch of Windows Phone 8 impressive, but what is even more so is the related raw sales in the crowded smartphone market, which saw a bump of 5.6 million Nokia Lumia smartphones, Emil Protalanski writes. Microsoft is making an effort to woo developers by increasing the number of developer markets, making app submission easier and adding more mobile operator billing partners, now at 29. The company also said there was a bump in paid app revenue of 140%.

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Microsoft put hardware front-and-center Tuesday in introducing a pair of premium Lumia smartphones, an updated Surface tablet and its first-ever laptop model. The push into making devices comes as Microsoft rolls out its Windows 10 software for phones on the new Lumia 950 and 950 XL handsets, which will be exclusively distributed by AT&T in the US.

Microsoft is planning to follow last month's launch of Windows 10 with an Oct. 7 unveiling of new devices to run the software. Among the items reported on tap are two Lumia smartphones, a new Surface Pro 4 and the second generation of the Band wearable.

The sequel to Zynga's $160 million acquisition of "Draw Something" is a hit, reaching the top of the App Store last week, Matthew Lynley writes. Notoriously fickle gamers lost interest in the first "Pictionary"-like mobile game soon after Zynga's acquisition, but now "Draw Something 2" has cracked AppData's top 100 grossing applications list, Lynley writes.

Apple increased its share of the U.S. smartphone market, reaching 39% in the first quarter from 36.3% from the previous quarter, ComScore's MobiLens survey said. Samsung's devices rose from 21% to 21.7% to maintain second place. Android software stayed in the top spot despite a slight drop from 53.4% to 52%, while iOS grew 2.7% to reach 39% in the first quarter.

Wendy's is letting mobile users in Portland, Ore., Albuquerque, N.M., and Austin, Texas, test a system for paying for meals via its application. "We don't see everyone wanting to pay for their order with their smartphone, but for those that want that convenience, we want to be able to provide it. It's also a way for us to connect with people as they're in the restaurant and provide future capabilities, such as mobile ordering," Wendy's Brandon Rhoten says.